The Thames questions

Thanks everyone who replied with answers to my Thames questions.  We're planning to get 2 seven day licences so two weeks in total.  Surely that will be long enough if Deb did the trip in 8 days.  If we average about 5 hours every two days?

Indigo Dream's mooring guide was most useful, plus I've found that the Thames guide from the environment agency listed free moorings.  We just hope we're able to find the right places!  I've marked with a highlighter in our book all the places I know have a free mooring spot so suggestions are always welcome.  I assume the moorings will be on the "towpath" side of the river?

Sue & Deb, I checked my book and most of the locks do appear to have water which is perfect.

We're starting to feel a bit better about the Thames adventure... well, I am anyway.  Carol says she dreams about sinking, Barry's fretting about running out of water and about mooring, and Mick... actually I think the more other people worry about things the less Mick worries himself.  He's usually a real stress-head but having Barry doing that for him is leaving him free to enjoy himself.

For my own reference, here are the comments from my question post.

Sue said...

That is about 100 miles and over 30 locks that trip.

Lots of free 24hr moorings on the way, if I get time this weekend I'll put you a list up.

June 15, 2013 at 10:04 PM

Anonymous said...

1. You can moor overnight at Bulls Bridge itself - outside Tesco or you can go down a few locks of the Hanwell flight and moor just after the point where the River Brent joins from the left below the lock - this has good access to a famously fine pub "The Fox".

Check out our guide to moorings - http://indigodream.wordpress.com/indigo-dreams-rough-guide-to-moorings/ which details every mooring we've ever used - including lots on the Thames. If you email me I can send you more - I've had trouble updating the page with last year's Thames moorings.

2. There are water points at most of the Thames locks - they generally have very good water pressure.

3. Can't remember the timing - you're travelling upstream so allow for being slowed a little by the flow (much faster coming downstream). Will calculate and get back to you.

4. See our guide to moorings and email for more (as above)

Hope that's helpful - enjoy the Thames - it's fabulous!

Sue, nb Indigo Dream
June 15, 2013 at 11:38 PM

Deb (NZ) said...

Hi from a 'neighbour' from a cross the ditch

I have been following your journey for a while now because you are doing what I dream of being able to do one day. So far, we have had to make do with short canal holidays on hire boats when ever we make it to the UK. Our last trip was a couple of years ago - down the GU to Brentford, up the Thames to Oxford and along the South Oxford. Which gives me the opportunity to get out my logbook and say thanks for letting me share your travels :-)

1. We moored below the Hanwell flight, just after the River Brent joins the canal, on a grassy bank on the towpath side with a number of other boats. We felt perfectly safe and had no problems. Only concern would be if the Brent was running high or fast. We had a nice meal at The Fox. The early morning run we had down to Brentford to catch the tide next day was beautiful and took about an hour. BTW, I noted down that the stern was shoved sidewards by the Brent current after leaving Hanwell Bottom Lock.

2. A number of the locks have a tap. I found a web page that listed them but it has disappeared. Hopefully someone else knows of one.

3. My log shows that we spent 36.5 hours on the move between Teddington and Isis Lock. We did this over 8 days.

4. From memory, we paid at Runnymead, Windsor and Henley, and had free moorings at Hampton Court, Goring, Abingdon and Oxford.

Hope this all helps. I am so envious.
Deb (NZ)

June 15, 2013 at 11:44 PM